THE CHURCH SQUARE OF BANTAY, ILOCOS SUR.....

St. Agustine Church of Bantay, Ilocos Sur.....




The Belfry.....




Gated Entrance.....




Our Lady Of Charity, "The Patroness Of Ilocandia".....




Inside the Church.....




Eyes Of Faith.....




Sounds Of Antiquity.....






Atop Calvario Hills.....






Bantay, Ilocos Sur is a town that is adjacent to Vigan. It actually is the town before the bus enters the ark that marks the road which leads to Salcedo Plaza. To the average traveler, this town gets overlooked so often because most tourists who chose to ride the buses that start its journey from Metro Manila, automatically disembark at Vigan City itself. Bantay means Guardian in the English language.

According to the elder townsfolk, fishermen found the image of Our Lady of Charity in a wooden box while it floated in Bantaoay River. When people from other towns and provinces found out about it, they tried to carry the statue and claim it, according to their linage. But they failed to do so, with only the people from Bantay the ones able to move the miraculous image and thus, the town became her home. This is one of the stories on how the town got its name. The miraculous image was the town's Bantay. On January 12, 1956, the then Papal Nuncio to the Philippines (the Vatican's equivalent of an ambassador) most Reverend Msgr. Vagnozzi crowned the image as the Patroness of Ilocandia.

The belfry sits on a hilltop (Calvario Hill) overlooking a vast green pastureland and the mountain view of the province of Abra. It was used as a watchtower for invading enemy forces during World Wars I and II. Both the church and belfry stood witnesses to the endless revolts that Ilocanos often staged against the Spaniards with Ilocano Diego Silang's revolt ending when he was killed here in Bantay by a Spanish mestizo named Vico.

A lot has happened in this trip. But we are thankful that we have reached our destination. The club wishes to thank NAYON member James' lola whose name escapes me at the moment ( I better ask James about that c",)) for sharing us her home as Bless, Buboy, Erwin, James and yours truly stayed at her house and did not mind the intrusion. We planned on photographing Vigan at night and when no one else is aound hence the need to stay overnight. Since the house was good enough for a few people, Marc and the rest stayed in a hotel in an area much nearer to Vigan.

But while the sun is still up, onwards to Vigan we shall explore!